Magisterial probe indicts 4 cops

Besides immediate suspension of three,departmental inquiry for “major penalties” which may also lead to their dismissal from service,has been initiated. The DSP,though,has been let off with a mere transfer from south sub-division to police headquarters.

Based on the recommendations of the report,the Station House Officer,Police Station-34,Inspector Udaypal Singh,Incharge,police post,Burail,Inspector Narinder Patial and Sub-Inspector Balraj Singh have been suspended. The DSP (South) Vijay Kumar has been transferred to the police headquarters. Departmental inquiry for imposing “major penalty” has been initiated in case of Udaypal Singh,Narinder Patial and Balraj Singh.

The magisterial probe,conducted by a Punjab Civil Services (PCS) officer ML Sharma,has slammed Chandigarh Police,particularly senior officers,outright for callousness and flimsy investigation. The conclusion of the report reads: “The police has miserably,squarely and hopelessly failed from the very beginning to handle the case. While the junior officers showed complete apathy to the seriousness of the situation,the senior officers are morally responsible for the flimsy investigations.”

Holding Chandigarh Police responsible for Khushpreet’s death,the report said: “The approach of the police was very casual from Day One as they not only delayed the registration of FIR,but also did not take any effective steps keeping in view the sensitivity of the matter.”

Highlighting the lack of coordination among the officers,the report said: “The bare perusal of statements of police officers reveals that they have tried to shift the act of performance/responsibility on each other”.

Specific lapses on part of policemen
Inspector Udaypal Singh,SHO,PS-34: Udaypal Singh met Khushpreet’s family 19 hours after they had informed the police regarding the first ransom call. The process of organising teams to work with the family started 21 hours after the first ransom call was received. While the family was receiving ransom calls and pleading with the police for help,Udaypal Singh was busy in a meeting on tree plantation at police station 34 with Deputy Inspector General of Police Alok Kumar. Despite having knowledge about the kidnapping,he did not inform the DIG.

Inspector Narinder Patial,IC/PP- Burail: Narinder Patial pleaded that first he was busy in the court and then he was in the field,checking beat duties. Hence he took some time to reach the police post,when the family had alleged that they received a ransom call. “It is a mockery that when everybody was aware of the ransom call at 4.22 pm,the proceedings for lodging the FIR were started after 9 pm,” the report said. “His attitude speaks of callousness. He informed Inspector Udaypal Singh at 7.14 pm regarding the abduction.”

SI Balraj Singh, the first officer to know about Khushpreet being missing: Balraj Singh got a DDR lodged,but did not note down the details of the family,or even their phone numbers. From 4 pm to 7 pm,he claims that he was looking for the missing child,but he did not have the child’s picture,nor any family member accompanying him. Even after knowing that the family has received a ransom call,he took another two hours to contact them. “Balraj’s statement seems a bundle of lies. His response to the complaint of the family was casual and non-serious,” the report said.

DSP (South) Vijay Kumar: Vijay Kumar underestimated the gravity of situation. He sent the routine crime report on e-mail to the SSP without realising the seriousness of the case. He was overdependent on the SHO for information and failed to ensure that Udaypal Singh performed his duties. He claimed that he was informed about the incident on December 21 at 10.25 pm. He waited till 2.30 pm on December 22 to reach the police post and inform the SSP about the incident.